Steam heating system



Nov. 3, 1931. L. w. CARROLL STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I jzw/L n' ,1 00/5 fifarrbl ll! lm ZZZ/$266566,

NOV. 3, 1931. L w, CARROLL 1,830,051

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 3, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /"J\ a I a l ,fiweruom' L 00/5 7/ QzrraZZ,

Patented Nov. 3, 1931 LOUIS W. CARROLL, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS,

MUFFLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 'S'I'ZEAM HEATING SYSTEM 7 Application filed January 3, 1925. Serial No. 40".

My invention relates to improvements in steam heating systems such as are used in the heating of buildings, and more particularly to automatically controlled systems of By the low pressure variety.

The main objects of this invention are to provide more efficient means for distributing heat in systems of the character referred to; to provide for a more complete transfer of 10 heat from the combustion. chamber in the boiler to the atmosphere of the rooms to be heated; to minimize and avoid the difficulty commonly encountered in the expulsion of air from radiators currently used in the pres- 16 ent types of systems when heating up; to

make 10W set and short height radiators practical; to reduce the fuel Waste incident to varying demands for heat; to reduce the labor cost oi installation; to provide auto- 20 matic control of steam supply to radiators without a separate source of power; and in general to combine in one system a maximum of the advantages now found in hot ater heating systems and also those found in the so-called vapor, v cuum or low-pressure steam heating systems.

lVhile the hot water heating systems at present extensively employed have certain,

welllznoivn advantages, particularly that of holding a mild heat during the seasons of spring and fall, they also have disadvantags such as not heing adapted for quick response to the sudden daily changes of tempera ture prevailing in these seasons.

The so-called vapor or low-pressure steam heating systems have, on the other hand, the advantage of responding quickly to Weather variations, but they are not always efficient in the transfer or" heat, and they have the 40 disadvantage of not being adapted to quickly and thoroughly eliminate the air from radiators during the heating-up period, especially in the low-down type of radiators.

The present invention accordingly combincs the advantages of the hot Water typeot system with those of steam systems and at the same time provides a more positive elimination of air from the radiators during the h nting-up period. To this end radiators are so constructed that a definite path is provided for the expulsion of air.

In the preferred constructiom'means are provided for the accumulation of condensate in the lower portion of the-radiator, Where it is brought into contact with the Walls of real economy is effected unless an attendant is at hand to re ulate the fire or an automatic fire regulating device is employed. Having in mind particularly the low pressure type of system, I find it necessary on this account to provide a more sensitive and yet a positive means for draft regulation when the demand for steam fluctuates.

Existing devices for this purpose, as ordinarily used, are actuated by relatively large changes in temperature or pressure, or they depend upon some outside source of power, involving additional expense of installation and operation. I have provided a pressure responsive draft regulator and a new co1n bination of drafts, in order that the system may function efficiently as a Whole. In this as Well as in the radiator control, I have avoided the use of any outside source of power, obtaining all of the required power from the steam pressure or from the falling of the heavy condensate. V

Since the condensate is, by meansof this invention, returned to the boiler at'a lower temperature, it is not necessary to cover the return pipes with heat insulatin material. The return of condensate to the oiler at a low temperature is further advantageous in providing for more complete heat transfer from fire-box to heating medium in the boiler.

Separate return pipes for the condensate are preferred to the use of one pipe for both steam and condensate, though it is possible to obtain many of the advantages of my invention Without the use of separate re- A SIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GLENN passage of steam and the turn pipes. When condensate is returned through the steam pipes, it robs the steam of considerable heat and carries this heat back to the boiler. This not only means that heat is carried from point to point unnecessarily and more of it lost in transmission, but it returns hot water to the boiler and thus prevents a satisfactory transfer of heat from the flue gases to the heating medium.

YVhile there are several types of thermostatic temperature control systems adapted to control the steam supply by means of a thermostat conveniently located in the room or space to be heated, in nearly all of these systems a secondary source of power such as compressed air or electricity is employed in conne'tion with a thermostat for opening and closing the supply valves to the various radiators. These are not only expensive in first cost, but require continuous outlay for maintenance purposes and to cover the cost of ower involved.

The present invention accordingly proposes to avoid the use of a secondary source of power other than that turnished bv the condensate which may be derived from th rad ator while in operation. To this end each radiator is independently equipped with means (consisting of a steam con rol) for closing the steam supply through the medium of a float valve. hvdraulic seal. or a. diaphragm. any of which may be operated by means of the condensate derived from the radiator while in operation.

In addition to the steam control, each radiator is equipped. preferably the exhaust end. with means (consisting of the condensate control) for diverting the condensate of the steam used in the radiator from its normal course in the boiler return to the steam control chamber. for the purpose of oper atine: the steam control.

The condensate control consists of what might be termed a valve or valves which are in turn actuated by thermostatic mea ns either adiacent to or remote from the radiator. In view of the fact that a pressure of only a few inches of water is required to operate the steam control, these valves may be of small size and light in construction, which facilitates their use in direct connection with the delicate mechanism of a thermostat located at the radiator, or with a light electro-magnet suitably Conner-ted with an electric thermostat remotely located and preferably operated by means of primary batteries.

In the accompanying dra win Figure 1 shows a thermostatically operated steam valve in connection with a radiator of conventional design.

Fig. 2 is a left end elevation of the radiator of Fig. 1. showing the thermostat.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a modified term of thermostat suitable for use in connection with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of steam regulating valve suitable for actuation by means of a'thermostatsuch as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a modified form 01 radiator and thermostatically operated steam regulating device.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View of a modified form of steam inlet control device adapted for use on the radiator of Fig. 6, in place of the inlet control device there shown.

8 is a side elevation partly in section of a further modified form of steam regulating valve in connection with a radiator of conventional design.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View of a steam valve shown in Fig. 8.

Similar parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings I have shown radiators of sheet metal construction, preferably b ass or otlnr non-ferrous metal but it is obvious that iron or any suitable material might e used and the details altered widely without departing from the spirit of the inventicci or altering the principles oit operation.

In describing the operation oi" the control devices shown, attention first called t Fi gs. l and The radiator 1 has a supply pipe, and return pipe 6 connected with a boiler or other source of steam supply. The steam control chai'nber c is connected with the su' mly pipe Z) and with the radiator through the pipe Z'. The valve 0 is flexibly connected to the float c by means of the vertical rod (2 which passes through the spring 0', one end i said spring being connected to the bod:

of the control chamber, the other end bel tle 'ibly connected with the stem of 1 a handcontrol lever a (see Fig. 3), which operates over a spiral incline e in such manner that movement to the right, or clockwise, will rise the lever and end of spring 6', which movement in turn will lift the valve (2 to a closed position or to any intermediate position which may be desired.

The steam control chamber a is connected at the bottom with the condensate control chamber through the connecting pipe (Z. In the condensate control chamber (79' is located a valve member (l arranged to close the opening in the valve seat (.Z. The valve member al is suitably connected with the thermostatic control mechanism by means of the rod 5 The thermostatic control in this instance comprises a base suitably mounted at the return end of the radiator, an expansive member f securely anchored to the base g and flexibly connected to the rod 9 by means of levers and and conn wting rosl 9' all of which operate over iulcrums and ill) lli) lfli g in such manner that a slight elongation of the expansive member 9 due to a rise in atmospheric temperature is suflicently multiplied to close the valve al In the normal operation of the radiator, the condensate control chamber (Z will be open at d, allowing the condensate of the steam in the radiator-to pass directly to the boiler through 6 thus maintaining the level of the condensate in the steam control chamber e at an approximately equal height with the opening in seat- (Z in the condensate control chamber. With the condensate at this level in the steam control chamber, the valve 6 assumes an open position, the extent of which may be determined by the hand control lever As steam fills the radiator and the temperature of the room rises to a predetermined point above that at which the thermostat is adjusted to operate, the expansive member of the thermostat will expand. which movement will be communicated through the multiplying levers g and g to the condensate control valve (Z allowing it to close on the Valve seat at under its own weight.

As further condensation takes place, the condensate, being unable to pass directly to the boiler through the port in seat (P, will rise in the condensate chamber (Z As the steam control chamber is interconnected with the condensate control chamber through the pipe (P, the condensate will obviously rise an equal amount in the steam control chamber. As the level of condensate in the steam control chamber rises, the float e is lifted, raising the valve 6 away from spring 6* and eventually closing the valve 6 thus shutting off the steam supply.

The radiator, now being without steam supply, gradually cools, and the temperature of the room correspondingly falls, which in turn acts upon the expansive member g with a tendency to shorten it. This movement is in turn communicated through the multiplying mechanism to the rod 9 in such manner that valve (Z is lifted from its seat (Z thus allowing the condensate in the condensate chamber and in the steam control chamber to escape through the port in valve seat d to the pipe 12 until its original-level is regained. This lowering of the level of the condensate in the steam control chamber al lows the float 6 to descend to its original position and the valve 6 to open and again rest on the spring 6*.

Overflow pipe (Z is provided in such location that the condensate cannot rise above a predetermined level near the top of the steam control chamber.

The drain pipe 6 and the valve 6 11 provide for draining the tube d and the chambers (Z and 6 The valve (i may be adjusted to allow for the gradual draining of condensate. With such an adjustment, a predetermined weight per hour of steam is al- The connecting rod g of the thermostat i may also be made of a material having a high coeflicient of expansion, thus increasing the movement of g and al 1 Fig. 4: shows a. modified form of thermostat suitable for use with the arrangements shown by Figs. 1, 5 or 8 and by suitable lever arrangements it may be adapted to the construction-shown by Fig. 6. A fixed base 9 is employed the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but

a plurality of thermostatic members 9 is employed, the first one being anchored to the base at g". This first member having a large coefficient of expansion is attached at to the adjacent member 9 which is of a material having a very small coeflicient of expansion, such as hardwood. This member is in turn attached at its upper end to the next member g and so on till we reach the final thermostatic member, which is connected to the rod 9 All of the members 9 and g" are iree to move longitudinally under the action of expansion, except that'one member g is anchored to g at g, as before described. A guide 9 is provided to hold the members 9 and 9 in place without interfering with the thermostatic action. Assuming that the coefficient of expansion in the members 9 is negligible, it will be seen that the movement of g relative to 9' will be the same as would be obtained with one long thermostatic member 9 of the same material used in the several members 9 but of a length equal to their combined length.

By providing an adjustment 9 for moving the anchor 9 relative to the supporting base 9 it is possible to adjust the. opening or closing points of the thermostatically actuated control device to any desired temperature.

In the modification shown by Fig. 5, the method of operation is the same as in Fig. 1 with the exception that the valve 6 is operated through the medium. of a flexible diaphragm 6 on which the condensate trapped 1n the condensate control chamber by the closing of valve al acts in such manner that when the level in the condensate control chamber rises above the opening in valve seat (5*, the consequent pressure therefrom has a tendency to raise the diaphragm e and the valve 6 to a position where the steam supply is closed similar to the operation with a float, as outlined under Fig. 1. In addition to the tube 03 a tube d is provided in Fig. 5 with a water trap to prevent the passage of steam directly from pipe b to pipe 6 through tube (1. This tube Z serves to drain the condensate from the steamcontrol chamber above the diaphragm directly to the return pipe 6 The steam control valve a spring lever 6*, manual control lever c and spiral incline c all operate as before described, except that the valve stem 0 is connected with the diaphragm 0 instead of to a fioat.

Vihen the valve (Z closes the condensate port in seat d, the accumulating condensate in the chamber (Z produces a hydrostatic pressure on the lower side of the diaphragm c and thus closes the valve 6 by lifting it away from the spring lever e".

A by-pass overflow tube (Z is provided'so that a further rise of condensate in the chamber (F will be checked at the upper end of the tube (Z after which any additional condensate from the radiator will pass directly through the tube (Z to the return pipe 6 The maximum head of water in the chamber (Z is therefore represented by the vertical distance between tube (Z and the upper end of tube (6*. The apparatus may be so designed that this head of water is ample to actuate the diaphragm e and close the valve (2 against the relatively low steam pressure employed. The diaphragm e is preferably made of large diameter and very flexible, while the opening from the steam pipe 19 to the steam control chamber need not be large. The radiator, of which two broken portions are shown in Fig. 5, may be of conventional design or one of the improved types covered by this invention.

l 6 illustrates another modified form of steam control which is quite different in construction and yet operates upon the same basic principles. In this form the radiator is provided with a plurality of sections a which have partitions (1 extending across their interior and terminating short of the upper and lower ends of the sections. The sections are inter-connected a short distance above their lower ends. and to chambers e and c 13 by means of the tubes (i At the lower ends. the sections are inter-connected by means of the smaller tubes a? and also connected to the chamber (Z T he bottom of the steam control chamber 0 is connected with the lower condensate control chamber (5 by means of the tube (Z The upper condensate control chamber (Z is provided with a control valve (Z and its seat (Z The chamber (Z is provided with valve (1 closing the opening (Z and connected with the thermostatic mechanism through a rod (Z the weight of this valve and rod being much less than that of the member (Z In the normal operation of the radiator, the drain valve 0 being closed, the valve opening (Z being closed, and the port (Z being open,.the level of condensate in thesteam control chamber will be just above the opening of the tube (Z due to the elevation of the outlet of (Z into the chamber (Z This condition in the steam control chamber allows predetermined opening at the valve 0 up through the chamber 6 and through the connecting pipe to the radiator.

As the steam fills the radiator and the atmosphere in the room becomes heated to above the predetermined point at which the thermostatic control mechanism is set to oper ate, the expansive member expands in such manner that the rod 9 is lifted. The valves (Z and (Z are so connected to the thermostatic mechanism that this upward movement of the connecting rod will raise the valve d and close the opening (Z after which a further upward movement of the connecting rod will raise the valve (Z by means of rod 9 This operation of first closing the valve cl and then opening the valve (Z allows some of the condensate which has accumulated in the bottom of the radiator to pass through the valve port (Z and the tube (Z to the steam control chamber c, where it assumes a level only slightly below the previous level of condensate in the radiator, since the volume of condensate contained in the radiator is considerably greater than that required to fill the chamber 6 12 and the steam control chamber e The condensate in the steam control chamber 6 now raises the float a and closes the valve e and the steam inlet pipe.

The radiator now becoming cool there will be a consequent drop in the temperature of the room to some temperature below the predetermined point at which the thermostatic control is set to operate. At this point the expansive member 9 will have contracted sufliciently to allow the connecting rod to fall in a vertical direction. The rod is connected with valves (Z and (5 through the lever 9" in such manner that the heavier member will first close the opening (Z after which the valve d will open at (Z thus allowing the condensate in the steam control chamber to escape to the boiler return 6 which action opens the steam inlet by releasing the water seal and providing a free passage for the steam from pipe 6 to the radiator.

During the normal operation of the radiator in Fig. 6 with the valve (Z closed. condensate from the bottom of the radiator sections passes through the tubes a to the upper condensate chamber (Z in which it rises to the top of this chamber and then overflows to the chamber (Z and returns to the boiler through pipe 5 thus establishing the maxi mum height of condensate in the radiator. Since condensate is taken from the bottom of each section and finally from the coolest section of the radiator, it is cooled to near y room temperature before returning to the boiler.

the steam to pass from the pipe 6 through the e and the restricted orifice valve 6 tsaomr The drain cock 0 is provided for draining the pipe at and the lower portion of the steam control chamber when desired. The' lower portion of the radiator containing the accumulated condensate may be drained by tilting the lever 9 to open valves d and d in which position a lock is provided through the medium of hook 9 acting in conjunction with hook 9 The modified form of steam inlet control device of Fig. 7 comprises an upright chamber e, an inlet pipe I), a valve e therefor, a bar 6 to support said valve, said bar being hinged to the wall of chamber 6 and a hand-control lever 6 connected to said bar. There is an incline e on said chamber to regulate the elevation of said lever. Said chamber is formed at its upper end as at e for connection to the adjacent pipe a of Fig. 6 when used in place of the steam regulator there shown. The bottom of chamber 6 is apertured at 6 to receive a pipe 03 such as shown on Fig. 6. WVith this form of inlet the condensate admitted to chamber 6 forms a water seal to prevent flow of steam through pipe 5 This pipe Z2 must extend downwardly in the control chamber a sufficient distance to provide a water seal of ample head to overcome the steam pressure in the pipe. This is entirely practical on a low pressure system where a steam pressure of only a few ounces is required.

It will be obvious that the steam control devices shown in Fig. 5 may be operated in conjunction with the condensate control device shown in Fig. 6, also that the steam control device shown in Fig. 6 may be operated in conjunction with the condensate control device shown in Fig. 5. r

In connection with the operation of the arrangement as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the valve port (Z being normally open and having a much larger area of opening than the restricted orifice valve 6 which is adjusted to a small opening, there will be little or no pressure under the diaphragm 6 which inits normal position allows the valve 6 supported by the rod 6 to remain open.

Under this condition steam will pass from the supply pipe 6 through the port of valve 6 to the radiator. As soon as the radiator has become filled withsteam and the temperature of the room is accordingly raised, the

thermostatic control will operate to close the valve CZ" in a similar manner to that described in connection with Fig. 1. Th1s actlon prevents the escape of steam from the space under the diaphragm e and allows said space to fill with steam supplied through the ttjlbe T is will raise the diaphragm and close the valve 6 through the medium of the rod 6 in a similar manner to that described in connection with Fig. 5, with the exception that the pressure from the steam supply has been substituted for the hydrostatic pressure produced bythe arrangementoutlined under Fig. 5.

The radiatornow being devoid of steam supply will cease to furnish heat and the temperatureof the room will fallfaccordingly. This fall in temperature will again act on the thermostat in such manner that the valve fl will be lifted from its seat at (Z which will remove the pressure from underneath the diaphragm 6 due to the fact that the steam supplied through therestricted orifice valve c is not suflicient to maintain a pressure underneath the diaphragm 6 while the valve port (Z with a relatively large area, is open.

The lever c is shown throughout most of the views as a fiat spring, but it might, of course, be a rigid lever as shown in Fig. 6 without afiecting the method of operation.

In all of the constructions shown, one thermostat controls the steam supply in response to room temperature and at the same time controls the steam'supply to prevent the blowing of live steam through the radiator. OW- ing to the construction ofmy improved type of radiator, in which a definite path is provided for steam, there is no danger of steam passing directly from the intake to the return end of the radiator without circulating over the heating surfaces. The first sections adjacent to the steam pipe 6 must therefore be heated before the lastsection adjacent to the return pipe'b can be heated. The thermostatmay in any of the constructions shown he so located that it is affected by room temperature, but'will also be affected by the temperature of the last sectionin case this section is heated before the room temperatureis raised highenough to actuate the thermostat. Itis only by the combination of the various features hereinbefore described that it be comes practicable to employ a single thermostat for this dual purpose.

The words steam and vapor are used interchangeably in this specification, meaning the vapor of anyliquid suitable for use in a heating system. The words liquid and water are similarly used to denote any suitable liquid. The word condensate is meant to include the product of condensation of any liquid suitable for use in heating systems, water being the most common condensate.

Although several specific embodiments or modifications of this invention are herein set forth, it is to be understood that no attempt has been made to show all practical anduseful embodiments of the invention and that some of the details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a heating system, a multiple stage radiator for the extraction of heat from vapor by condensation and then from the condensate of the vapor, a return port for said radiator, fluid operated control means for regulating the supply of vapor to said radiator, and thermostatic means for closing said return port and thereby trapping fluid for the actuation of said fluid operated control.

means.

2. In a steam heating system, a multiple stage radiator for the extraction of heat from Vapor and from the condensate of said vapor, means for controlling the supply of vapor to said radiator, and thermostatic means for trapping fluid to actuate said vapor control means.

3. In a steam heating system a combination steam and hot Water radiator in which the steam first radiates heat to atmosphere and the condensate obtained therefrom radiates further heat to atmosphere before it is allowed to escape from the radiator, thermostatic means for controlling the escape of condensate from the radiator, and means actuated by the weight of condensate regulating the admission of steam to the radiator.

4. In a heating system a radiator for the extraction of heat from vapor, by condensation, and then from the condensate of said vapor, steam control means through which vapor is admitted to said radiator, means actuated by the Weight of condensate from said radiator for closing said steam control means, and thermostatically controlled regulating means for diverting condensate for actuating said steam control means.

5. In a steam heating system, a radiator, multiple exhaustports for said radiator, thermostatic means for closing one of said exhaust ports, a valve for the admission of steam to said radiator, pressure responsive means for actuating said valve, and a connection between the thermostatically closed exhaust port and said pressure responsive means for actuating said valve and regulating the admission of steam to said radiator.

Signed at Chicago this 15th day of Sept,

LOUIS W. CARROLL. 

